PWDS, minister make case for sign language experts on TV
CENTRE for Citizens with Disabilities ( CCD) yesterday, confronted the Federal Government to request the full employment of Sign Language Interpreters ( SLIS) in Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA).
The Executive Director, David Anyaele, who led a delegation to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was worried that the implementation of Section 2 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities ( Prohibition) Act 2018 remained a challenge in the country despite the endless cry by Persons Disabilities ( PWDS).
According to Anyaele, the Act provided that the Federal Ministry of Information shall make provisions for promotion of awareness regarding the rights and dignity of PWDS, as well as their capabilities, achievements and contributions to the society.
His words: “We are requesting the full employment of SLIS in NTA. We observed that at the peak of COVID- 19, NTA was using the SLIS for their 7a. m. news, which enhanced access to news and information to the deaf community.
“However, our findings show that the SLIS are yet to
With be employed as staff of NTA, and that their services and participation during news broadcasts have diminished.”
He called on the minister to use his good offices to ensure that the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC) included the use of SLIS in all television news as a state policy.
Responding, Mohammed urged other television stations to employ SLIS for their programmes, promising to assist the PWD community in areas of advocacy to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of the Act.
The minister noted that the government would continue to collaborate with PWDS to promote provisions of the aact, adding that directives would go out to all television stations to comply with it.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, the minister said: “I have also directed, within my ministry most importantly, the issue of television stations having SLIS. By tomorrow, I can assure you that a directive will go out to television stations, pointing their attention to the relevant provisions of the Broadcasting Code. I am sure that in a few weeks time, you will begin to see the difference,” he said.